Immunotherapy combo shows promise in advanced lung cancer trial

NCT ID NCT03607539

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This phase 3 study tested whether adding the immunotherapy drug sintilimab to standard chemotherapy helps people with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. 397 participants received either sintilimab plus chemo or a placebo plus chemo. The main goal was to see if the combination delayed cancer growth. Results showed that sintilimab improved progression-free survival, meaning the cancer took longer to worsen.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

sintilimab (an immunotherapy drug) combined with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy

What this could lead to

If successful, this combination could become a standard first-line treatment for advanced non-squamous lung cancer, helping patients live longer without their cancer growing.

What could go wrong

This is a completed phase 3 trial, but results may not apply to all patients. Immunotherapy can cause immune-related side effects, and not everyone responds to the treatment.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

lung neoplasm non-small cell lung carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center

    Guangzhou, China